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How to play the Ultima series today - legal sources, compatibility layers, and setup guides.

GOG.com - Legal Downloads

Ultima IV - available free on GOG
Ultima IV is free on GOG

GOG.com (Good Old Games) is the best legal source for the Ultima series. All games are DRM-free and pre-configured to run on modern Windows systems via DOSBox.

Title GOG Status Notes
Ultima I–VI Collection Available (paid) Includes all six early Ultima titles; DOSBox configured
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar FREE Available at no cost - EA released it as freeware
Ultima VII: The Black Gate + Forge of Virtue Available (paid) Includes expansion; use Exult for best experience
Ultima VII Part 2: Serpent Isle + Silver Seed Available (paid) Includes expansion; use Exult for best experience
Ultima Underworld I & II Available (paid) Both Underworld games in one package; DOSBox configured
Ultima VIII: Pagan Available (paid) DOSBox pre-configured; the Forgotten World expansion is not included
Ultima IX: Ascension Not available Windows-native; compatibility issues prevent GOG release as of 2026

Playing Ultima VII with Exult

Ultima VII: Serpent Isle - storm scene via Exult
Serpent Isle at high resolution via Exult

Exult is the recommended way to play Ultima VII on modern hardware. Here's how to set it up:

Windows

  1. Buy Ultima VII from GOG.com and install it
  2. Download the latest Exult installer from exult.sourceforge.net/download.php
  3. Run the Exult installer
  4. Launch Exult and point it at your GOG Ultima VII installation folder (typically C:\GOG Games\Ultima VII)
  5. Select your preferred resolution and launch

macOS

  1. Install Homebrew if not already installed: brew install exult
  2. Or download the macOS build from the Exult download page
  3. Mount your GOG Ultima VII installer and extract the game data
  4. Configure Exult.cfg to point at the game data directory
  5. Launch Exult from the Applications folder

Linux

  1. Install Exult from your package manager: sudo apt install exult (Ubuntu/Debian)
  2. Or compile from source via the GitHub repository
  3. Extract GOG game data using innoextract
  4. Configure Exult.cfg with the data path
  5. Run exult from your terminal

Playing Ultima VI with Nuvie

Ultima VI gameplay

Nuvie is the recommended engine for playing Ultima VI on modern systems. Setup is similar to Exult:

  1. Purchase the Ultima 1–6 Collection from GOG.com and install Ultima VI
  2. Download Nuvie from nuvie.sourceforge.net
  3. Extract Nuvie to a folder
  4. Edit nuvie.cfg to point at your Ultima VI game directory
  5. Run nuvie - the game should launch with extended resolution

Ultima Online

Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn interface
Ultima Online - still running after 27 years

Official Servers

Ultima Online continues to operate officially under Broadsword Online Games. A subscription is required. Visit uo.com for current subscription options.

Official UO runs on the Kingdom Reborn (enhanced) and Classic (2D) clients. Both are freely downloadable from the official site; only a subscription is required to play.

Free Shards

Free shards are community-run private servers that emulate UO's server software. They are free to play and often preserve specific eras of UO (1997–2001 "Renaissance" era is particularly popular). Some notable free shards:

  • Ultima Online: Outlands - large, active, custom content free shard with thousands of players
  • Angel Island - focuses on the pre-trammel (pre-2000) PvP era with high historical accuracy
  • IPY (In Por Ylem) - another pre-trammel focused shard

Free shards operate using the ServUO or RunUO server emulator software. The UO community maintains a comprehensive list at Stratics.